Clamping mechanism for plate-planing machines



Aug. 18,I 1925. 1,549,912 .1. H. EBEL CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR PLATE PLANING MACHINES l Y J' l Y 2 Aug. 18, 1925.

J. H. EBEL CLAMPNG MECHANISM FOR PLATE PLANING MACHINES Filed Feb. 27, 1923 2 Sheets-Shut 2 Patented Aug. 18, 1925. i

i UNITED STATES PA'I'EN'E OFFICE..

JOHN H. EBEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO R. HOE AND C0., INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.. A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CLAIWPING MECHANISM FOR PLATE-PLANING MACHINES.

Application filed February 27, 1923. Serial No. 621,573.

To all lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. EBEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, county of Kings, and State oi New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamping Mechanism for Plate-Planing Machines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to cert-ain improvements in clamping mechanism Jfor clamping electrotype and similar plates on the work support of plate lplaning machines.

It is the especial object of the present invention to provide an improved plate clamp for this type of machine whichmay' be operated very rapidly to clamp the work into place, the construction being such that the clamp may be .preliminarily moved against the work and then clamped into position with the result that a very small movement of the parts is necessary for effecting the clamping action so that the clamp may be operated quickly and with less wear and less lost motion in the parts than with constructions now used for this purpose.

1t is a further object of the invention to provide an abutment connected to the clamp and which can be locked to the work sup` port to take up the clamping thrust, and in which means are provided for ensuring the operation of the locking means so that a quick and eliicient lock-up is provided.

With these and other objects not speciti cally referred to in View, the invention consists in certain novel parts, arrangements and combinations which will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features then pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed.

Referring now to these drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view partly broken away and partly in section ot the improved clamping mechanism.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view ot the construction shown in 1, the section being taken on line 2-2 of that figure.

Figure 3 is a side view of the particular construction shown in Fig. 2, the view being taken in the direction of arrow 3 ot that figure.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 the parts being shown in another position.

Figure 5 is a plan view ot the cam for operating the clamp.

Referring' now to these drawings, there is provided a suitable frame work including side trames 1, 2 and cross frames 3, 4c which support the operating parts of the machine. Mounted to travel in the frames is a work support in the form oi' a plate or table 5, this support carrying the work and the clamping mechanism and being movable back and forth in the trames under any suitable planing or shaving mechanism, not shown. rl"his work support may be mounted in the trame in any suitable manner so as to have an easy reciprocating movement. As shown depending from the work support are webs 6 which ride on antifriction rolls 7 supported on studs 8 mounted in the side trames 1 2, these rolls in turn running on guides 9 carried by brackets 10 depending 'from the work support. W'ith this construction the rolls are held between the guides 9 and the web 6 and the work support is thus securely held during its travel to and fro on the rolls. rThis support may be reciproca-ted in any suitable manner as by a rack 1l meshing with a driving gear 12 carried on a shaft 13 suitably supported in the trame work and rotated in any suitable manner not illustrated.

Carried by this work support is a front work stop lll in the form of a bar provided with a` toothed edge 15 againstV which the front edge 16 of the work l abuts, this work W being illustrated in the form of a flat plate.

Mounted on the` work support so as to have a sliding movement thereon is a clamp and an abutment, the clamp having a sliding movement on the abut-ment, the latter being locked to the work support when inl clamping position. 1n accordance with the invention means are provided whereby these parts are so arranged that the clamp may be freely moved against the work and then clamped in position so that but a very short movement is required to effect the clamping action, thus eliminating wear and lost mo tion on the parts, and providing a quick lock-up.

`While the Aspeciiic construction tor effecting this may be somewhat varied, in the particular construction illustrated, there is provided a clamp in the form of a plate 17 eX- tending across the machine, this plate at its forward edge having work engaging means shown in the form of teeth 18 carried on a bar 19 secured to the upper surface of the Hat plate. This clamp is arranged so that it may be moved into engagement with the work before the clamping action is effected and, in the particular construction shown, the clamp is mounted to have a free sliding movement on the work support, relatively to the abutment. In the particular construction illustrated the abutment is in the form of a plate 2l extending across the work support and beyond the sides thereof. This plate is channeled widthwise of the machine, and in these channels work a pair of reciprocating pawl slides 22, 23, having secured at their outer extremities, as by screws 2%, blocks 25 on the inner faces of which are formed pawl teeth 26. Secured to the work support at each side are toothed racks 27 and 28. g

By manipulating these slides the abutment plate 21may be locked to the work support so that it will take the thrust of the clamping action when the clamp is clamped against the work but at the same time is freely movable on the work support so that the clamp may be moved against the work before the actual clamping` action is effected, connections hercinafter referred to being provided between the clamp and the abutment plate 21. While these connections may be somewhat varied, in the best constructions these connections will include a cam, a partial moveinent of which will effect the locking of the pawl teeth to the work support, and a continued movement of the cam will effect the clamping action of the clamp against the Work. In the best constructions, furthermore, the cam will be so proportioned that a slight preliminary movement longitudinally of the work support may be given the plate and the locking pawls so as to ensure the engagement of the pawl teeth with the racks on the support. As shown, there is provided a two-part cam, indicated generally by the numeral 29 in Fig. 5, this two-part cam including a plate member 3() and a hub member 31, these members being integrally formed and the hub 31 of the cam projecting through the hub 32 formed in the rear of the clamp 17, the walls of this hub being formed with an opposing engaging surface 33, a handle 34 being provided secured to the hub of the cam for operating it.

The plate portion 30 of the cam is positioned above the slides 22, 23, before referred to, and s provided with twosegmental cam slots 35, 35 into which take pins 36 on the inner ends of the slides. The segmental slots 35 and 35 of the cam are provided with a dip 37, so that on the rotation of the cam a slight movement may be given the abutment plate 21 relatively to the work support, so as t0 ensure the engagement of the pawl teeth 26 with the racks 27, this movement in the present instance being a rearward one, as at the time this movement is given the clamp has been moved close up aga-inst the work.

In the best constructions hold down means will be provided for preventing the clamping face of the clamp from rising when it is clamped against the work. lhile these means may be somewhat varied, in the particular construction illustrated, the work support is provided on each side with an inwardly inclined wear plate 40 into which taire bolts 41 carried in wings 42 depending from the sides of the forward part of the clamp. lith this construction the clamp is held in proper position during the clamping action.

In the operation of the device the pawl teeth 26 are unlocked from the racks 27, 28, and the clamp is new free to slide against the work. The handle 34 is then rotated, and through the pin and slot action the sliding racks are locked to the work support, thereby locking the abutment plate to the support, and continuation of this movement. of the handle causes the high part 38 of the hub 31 to come into engagement with the forward cam surface of the clamp 17 and through a continuation of the movement of the handle effects a clamping movement of the clamp against the work. To release the work the handle 34 is rotated in the reverse direction which causes the clamp to be drawn back far enough from the work so that the work can be removed from the work support Without having to pull the entire clamp back.

This movement, it will be observed, is thus very small and can be very quickly effected with a minimum amount of movement of the parts, consequently lost motion and wear of the parts is minimized and a very effective clamp is provided.

IVhile the invention has been shown and described in what is believed to be its best form, it will be understood that various changes and variations may be made in the specific structure illustrated without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

lWhat I claim is.

l. In a clamping mechanism for plate planing machines, the combination of a hori- Zontally arranged work support, a flat abutment movable on the support and extending beyond the same at either side, a flat clamp freely movable on the support against the work, and connections between the clamp and the abutment including a cam arranged above the support and operating to lock the abutment plate to the support and to move the clamp into clamping engagement with the work.

2. In a clamping mechanism for plate planing machines, the combination of a horizontal flat Work support, an abutment plate movable on the support and extending beyond the same on either side, a flat clamp freely movable on the support against the Work and having a hub, and means for loclring the abutment plate to th'e sides of the support including a cam located above the support and having a surface for operating the locking means and a hub extending into the hub of the clamp for moving the clamp against the Work.

8. In a clamping mechanism for plate planing` machines, the combination of a Work support, an abutment plate movable on the sup port, side racks on the support, sliding bars on the plate having paivl teeth, a clamp freely movable on the support against the Work, a cam connecting the clamp and plate, said cam having slots, pins on the bars tali ing in the slots, said slots being formed with a dip to effect a slight preliminary movement of the plate, and means for rotating the cam.

Zl. In a clamping mechanism for plate planing machines, the combination of a Work support, an abutment plate on the support, a clamp freely slidable on the support against the work, means for locking the plate to the support, and a cam connecting the clamp and plate and having a surface for operating the locking means, and a surface for moving the clamp into clamping engagement with the vvorlr.

5. In a clamping mechanism for plate planing machines, the combination of a Work support, an abutment plate on the support, a clamp freely slid-able on the support against the work, means for locking the plate to the support, a cam connecting the clamp and plate and having a surface for operating the locking means, a surface for moving the clamp into clamping engagement with the Work and a dip for effecting a slight preliminary movement of the plate, and means for rotating the clamp.

6. In a clamping mechanism for plate planing machines, the combination of a Work support, an abutment plate movable on the support, a clamp freely movable With the abutment against the Work and formed With a cam slot, slides on the plate having toothed ends, racks on the support with which the ends engage, a two-part cam having a lower cam surface for actuating the slides, and an upper surface engaging the slot inthe clamp, and a handle for rotating the cani.

7. In a clamping mechanism for plate planing machines, the combination of a Work support, side racks on the support, said support being formed With inwardly inclined sides below the racks, an abutment plate movable on the support, a clamp freely movable on the support with the plate against the Work, toothed locking bars on the abut ment for locking the abutment to the racks of the support, a rotary actuator having a cam surface in engagement With the bars, a cam surface in engagement With the clamp, and means on the clamp bearing against the inclined sides of the Work support for preventing the clamp from rising away from the work.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN H. EBEL. 

